Since the instant I heard Shaker Loops on the radio twenty years ago, I've always felt I "got" this music although it's possible that as Adams' techniques have grown in sophistication, that feeling may be diminishing. And the idea that he might ultimately be remembered as an opera composer boggles my mind, Nixon in China's I'm the Wife of Mao Zedong not withstanding:

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I think the fact that anyone wants to spend time arguing about the relative worth of "early" vs "late" Adams or their first reactions on hearing any of his compositions at all suggests the importance of his work and the likelihood that it will be remembered.

And there is no doubt his operas and oratorios will be at the forefront of this legacy. El Nino alone settles that case.

When I saw Nixon in China on television for the first time many years ago, I was absolutely blown away. It remains one of my favorite operas though I have never seen it live. (I live in Tennessee, so my mileage would be high to find it at a live theatre.) Adams' ability to present lovely harmonies in the minimal form is remarkable to me.